Residents of the city of Zaria are up in arms and incensed about the latest child bride scandal to rock the historic metropolis involving the marriage of an eight year old primary four girl to an adolescent young man.
Like many cities across northern Nigeria where the Islamic and Arabic culture tolerates child brides, Zaria is a place governed by Sharia law, which allows a girl to marry once she starts menstruating.
In this case, however, the unnamed child is just eight and has been married to an adolescent named as Baba Ahmed.
Apparently, last week, the marriage ceremony was conducted between the couple, sparking outrage from child abuse and human rights campaigners.
However, the families claim that although the marriage has indeed been formalised, there will be no sexual intercourse between the couple until at least the girl finishes her secondary school education.
Her groom is said to be a Senior Secondary School student and this is not the first of such marriages that have been conducted in Zaria.
It is unclear if there will be other marital duties involved in the marriage including cooking, living together or going for romantic outings together.
However, the marriage has raised a lot of controversy among Nigerians. Many campaigners are totally outraged at the concept of wedding between minors and even say it is unconstitutional as the bride is not of age and she did not give her consent while others, particularly, Muslim hardliners, say there is nothing wrong with it.
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